Newtown Forms Interfaith Partnership for Refugee Resettlement

(NEWTOWN, CT, August 25, 2016) Several Newtown religious organizations and individual residents are joining their humanitarian efforts to establish the Interfaith Partnership for Refugee Resettlement (IPRR) to help refugee families find new homes in the Greater Newtown/Danbury Area. The hope is to have the first family resettled in the next two months.

The group includes members of Trinity Episcopal Church, Newtown Congregational Church, Al Hedaya Islamic Center, Baha'i Community and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Any religious organizations and residents are invited to provide support, such as donating time and resources. "This effort is not only rewarding because of the eventual outcome of helping refugees in their struggles," says IPRR Chair Rick Chamiec-Case who leads the group with Vice-Chair Gordon Williams. "Just as personally satisfying is teaming with other organizations for such an important cause that will enrich the Greater Danbury Area."

"We are working with Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS) of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, which wants to increase the number of refugees resettled in 2016 from 240 to 500. Organizations like ours must provide the support to reach these goals," says Williams. Nine committees--from transportation to health--are set up to handle the family's myriad needs. To this end, IPRR is asking community organizations and individuals to donate their time and/or make contributions of financial support or household items. Additional information can be found at iprefugeer.org. ####